1.Causal relationship between intestinal flora and esophageal cancer: A Mendelian randomization analysis
Mengmeng WANG ; Mingjun GAO ; Siding ZHOU ; Shuyu TIAN ; Yusheng SHU ; Xiaolin WANG
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2026;33(03):397-405
Objective To explore whether there is a causal relationship between intestinal flora and esophageal cancer. Methods Summary statistics of intestinal flora and esophageal cancer were obtained from the Genome-wide Association Studies (GWAS) database. Five methods, including inverse variance weighted (IVW), weighted median estimation, Mendelian randomization (MR)-Egger regression, single mode, and weighted mode, were used for analysis, with IVW as the main analysis method. Sensitivity analysis was used to evaluate the reliability of MR results. Results In the IVW method, Oxalobacteraceae [OR=1.001, 95%CI (1.000, 1.002), P=0.023], Faecalibacterium [OR=1.001, 95%CI (1.000, 1.002), P=0.028], Senegalimassilia [OR=1.002, 95%CI (1.000, 1.003), P=0.006] and Veillonella [OR=1.001, 95%CI (1.000, 1.002), P=0.018] were positively correlated with esophageal cancer, while Burkholderiales [OR=0.999, 95%CI (0.998, 1.000), P=0.002], Eubacterium oxidoreducens [OR=0.998, 95%CI (0.997, 0.999), P=0.038], Romboutsia [OR=0.999, 95%CI (0.998, 1.000), P=0.048] and Turicibacter [OR=0.998, 95%CI (0.997, 0.999), P=0.013] were negatively correlated with esophageal cancer. Sensitivity analysis showed no evidence of heterogeneity, horizontal pleiotropy and reverse causality. Conclusion Oxalobacteraceae, Faecalibacterium, Senegalimassilia and Veillonella increase the risk of esophageal cancer, while Burkholderiales, Eubacterium oxidoreducens, Romboutsia and Turicibacter decrease the risk of esophageal cancer. Further studies are needed to explore how these bacteria affect the progression of esophageal cancer.
2.Development of a machine learning-based preoperative prediction model for spread through air spaces in early-stage lung adenocarcinoma
Kai CHU ; Xinrong XU ; Zhenyu LIU ; Qinglin REN ; Wenbo HE ; Minlu HU ; Xiaolin WANG ; Yusheng SHU
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2026;33(08):1212-1221
Objective To develop and validate a machine learning model based on preoperative clinical characteristics, laboratory indices, and radiological features for the non-invasive prediction of spread through air spaces (STAS) in patients with early-stage lung adenocarcinoma. Methods Preoperative data from patients with early-stage lung adenocarcinoma who underwent surgical resection at Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital between January 2020 and August 2025 were retrospectively collected. The data included clinical characteristics, laboratory indices, and radiological features. Patients were divided into a STAS-positive and a STAS-negative group based on postoperative pathological findings. The dataset was randomly split into a training set and a testing set at a 7 : 3 ratio. Feature variables were selected using the maximum relevance and minimum redundancy (mRMR) algorithm and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression. Five machine learning models were constructed: logistic regression (LR), random forest (RF), support vector machine (SVM), light gradient boosting machine (LightGBM), and extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost). Model performance was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and decision curve analysis (DCA). The shapley additive explanations (SHAP) method was employed to interpret the optimal prediction model. Results A total of 377 patients were included, comprising 177 (46.9%) males and 200 (53.1%) females, with a mean age of (63.31±9.73) years. There were 261 patients in the training set and 116 patients in the testing set. In the training set, statistically significant differences were observed between the STAS-positive group (n=130) and STAS-negative group (n=131) across multiple features, including age, sex, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), clinical T stage, and maximum solid component diameter (P<0.05). A final set of 10 feature variables was selected by combining mRMR and LASSO regression, and five machine learning models (LR, RF, SVM, LightGBM, XGBoost) were developed. The XGBoost model demonstrated optimal performance in both the training and testing sets, achieving AUCs of 0.947 [95%CI (0.920, 0.975)] and 0.943 [95%CI (0.894, 0.993)], respectively. DCA indicated that the XGBoost model provided a high net clinical benefit across a wide range of threshold probabilities. SHAP analysis revealed that the vessel convergence sign, clinical T stage, age, consolidation-to-tumor ratio (CTR), and MLR were the features with the highest contributions to STAS prediction. Conclusion The XGBoost model effectively predicts preoperative STAS status in early-stage lung adenocarcinoma, exhibiting excellent discriminative performance and good clinical interpretability. Key predictors such as the vessel convergence sign, clinical T stage, age and CTR provide a crucial reference for preoperative risk assessment and the individualized selection of surgical strategies, ultimately benefiting patients.
3.Prognostic value and immunomodulatory role of DNAJC5B in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
Junxi HU ; Qingwen LIU ; Jiaqi HOU ; Jie YOU ; Shuyu TIAN ; Hao KONG ; Xiaolin WANG ; Yusheng SHU
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2026;33(10):1634-1639
Objective To explore the role of DNAJC5B in immunotherapy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Methods Using the ESCC dataset from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, genes correlated with DNAJC5B expression were identified through Pearson correlation analysis. Subsequently, Gene Ontology (GO) functional enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis were performed. Additionally, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data were utilized to analyze the expression of DNAJC5B in different T-cell subsets. The prognostic value of DNAJC5B was evaluated using Kaplan-Meier survival curves, receiver operating characteristic curves, and Cox proportional hazards models. Results DNAJC5B was highly expressed in patients with advanced-stage ESCC, particularly in males. GO and KEGG analyses revealed a significant correlation between DNAJC5B expression and immune-related processes, such as the adaptive immune response and cell surface receptor signaling pathways. Single-cell analysis results indicated that DNAJC5B expression was positively correlated with immune function, with DNAJC5B predominantly accumulating in CD8+ T cells. Kaplan-Meier survival curves showed that the median survival time for patients with high DNAJC5B expression was 681 days, significantly shorter than the 1 361 days for patients with low expression (P<0.05). Furthermore, univariate and multivariate independent prognostic analyses demonstrated that DNAJC5B was an independent risk factor, with hazard ratios (HRs) of 3.577 and 4.114, respectively (both P<0.05). Conclusion DNAJC5B may play a crucial immunomodulatory role in ESCC, particularly in regulating CD8+ T-cell function and tumor immune escape. These findings support the potential of DNAJC5B as a biomarker for the treatment and prognostic assessment of ESCC.
4.Value of retinal multimodal imaging in the diagnosis and treatment of cerebrovascular and neurological disorders
Yu LIU ; Zifeng ZHANG ; Manhong LI ; Yusheng WANG ; Xiaolin GAN ; Jiaxing SUN
International Eye Science 2026;26(11):1956-1961
As an extension of the central nervous system, the retina is the only tissue in the body that allows direct in vivo observation of both neural and vascular structures, offering a unique non-invasive window for the assessment of cerebral neurovascular diseases. Recent studies have shown that multimodal imaging techniques—such as fundus photography, optical coherence tomography(OCT), and OCT angiography(OCTA)—enable quantitative analysis of retinal indicators including vascular caliber, fractal dimension, retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, and microvascular density. These metrics can, to some extent, reflect the severity and progression risk of cerebrovascular and neurodegenerative diseases such as stroke, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease. Consequently, retinal imaging holds promise as a powerful tool for early screening, risk stratification, and treatment monitoring. This article systematically reviews the application of retinal imaging technologies in the diagnosis and management of cerebral neurovascular disorders, with a particular focus on the important role of artificial intelligence(AI)-driven image analysis in enhancing screening efficiency, improving risk assessment accuracy, and promoting multidisciplinary collaborative care, thereby providing insights for clinical translation.
5.Research progress on the mechanism of orthokeratology lenses in delaying myopia progression
Lili* GAO ; Yanghe* WANG ; Ruotong LI ; Yusheng BAO ; Xiaojuan HUANG ; Hongyun YUE
International Eye Science 2026;26(11):1967-1972
In recent years, the global prevalence of myopia has continued to rise. In China, myopia shows a trend toward widespread prevalence, earlier onset, and greater severity, and high myopia poses a serious threat to adolescent ocular health. Orthokeratology is currently one of the most effective clinical interventions for slowing myopia progression, yet its exact mechanisms of action have not been fully elucidated. Focusing on the various hypotheses proposed in the literature, this review summarizes the role of peripheral retinal defocus, choroidal thickness and blood flow, higher-order aberrations, accommodation, and biomechanics in myopia control with orthokeratology lenses. Specifically, the induction of peripheral myopic defocus through the reverse-geometry design of orthokeratology lenses constitutes the core mechanism by which axial elongation is slowed. After lens wear, choroidal thickening and increased blood perfusion improve the nutritional supply to the outer retina and inhibit scleral remodeling. Increases in higher-order aberrations, such as spherical aberration and coma, expand the depth of focus and reduce accommodative lag. Improvements in accommodative function and alterations in corneal biomechanics also act synergistically. These mechanisms are interrelated and act in a cascading manner to jointly inhibit axial elongation. This review aims to provide a theoretical basis for a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of orthokeratology lenses and to offer clinical references for individualized lens fitting, optimized lens design, and future research on myopia prevention and control.
6.Protective effect and mechanism of trophoblast-derived mesenchymal stem cells against liver injury in a mouse model of autoimmune hepatitis
Long XU ; Wanwan SHI ; Jiandan QIAN ; Shiyun KE ; Yusheng HE ; Xiaofang WANG ; Guiqiang WANG
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2026;42(9):2116-2125
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of trophoblast-derived mesenchymal stem cell (T-MSC) on concanavalin A (Con A)-induced immune-mediated liver injury in mice, as well as its association with the changes in inflammatory response. MethodsMorphological assessment, flow cytometry, and tri-lineage differentiation assay were used to observe the biological characteristics of T-MSC. In the pilot experiment, mice were divided into PBS group, T-MSC monotherapy group, and Con A groups at a concentration of 10, 15, or 20 mg/kg to evaluate the safety of T-MSC monotherapy on liver function and determine the appropriate dose for modeling. In the formal experiment, mice were divided into healthy control group (HC group), Con A group, and Con A+T-MSC group, with 5 mice in each group. The mice were given injection of Con A (15 mg/kg) via the caudal vein to establish a mouse model of immune-mediated liver injury, while the mice in the T-MSC monotherapy group were given transfusion of 1×106 T-MSCs via the caudal vein at 3 hours after modeling, and samples were collected 12 hours later. The serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were measured; liver histopathological changes were observed, and Ishak inflammatory activity score and inflammatory necrosis area were assessed; the serum levels of inflammatory cytokines were measured; transcriptome sequencing, immunofluorescence assay, and Western blot were used to measure the changes in inflammation-related molecules in liver tissue. The Shapiro-Wilk test was used to assess the normality of continuous data, and the homogeneity of variance test was also performed; a one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison of normally distributed data with homogeneity of variance between multiple groups, and the Tukey’s post-hoc test was used for further comparison between two groups; the Kruskal-Wallis H test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed data with heterogeneity of variance between multiple groups, and the Wilcoxon test was used for further comparison between two groups. ResultsT-MSC had a long spindle shape, showed the characteristics of fibroblast-like morphology and adherent growth, and possessed the osteogenic, chondrogenic, and adipogenic differentiation abilities. Flow cytometry showed high expression levels of CD90, CD105, and CD73 in T-MSC, with a positive rate of 96.8%, 99.0%, and 99.9%, respectively, while there was low or no expression of CD31, human leukocyte antigen DR, CD45, and CD34, with a positive rate of 0.120%, 0, 0.061%, and 0, respectively. Administration of T-MSC alone did not cause obvious abnormalities in ALT, AST, or LDH. Con A at the concentrations of 10, 15, and 20 mg/kg all increased the serum levels of biochemical parameters for liver injury in a dose-dependent manner, with mortality observed in the 20 mg/kg group. In the formal experiment, compared with the HC group, the Con A group had significant increases in the serum levels of ALT, AST, and LDH (P<0.01), and after T-MSC treatment, there were significant reductions in these markers compared with the Con A group (P<0.01). HE staining showed that the Con A group had disordered structure of the liver, accompanied by marked inflammatory cell infiltration and focal/patchy necrosis, and these pathological changes were alleviated after T-MSC treatment. Compared with the HC group, the Con A group had significant increases in Ishak score and the percentage of inflammatory necrosis area (P<0.001), while there were significant reductions in these indicators after T-MSC treatment compared with the Con A group (P<0.01). ELISA showed that compared with the HC group, the Con A group had significant increases in the serum levels of interleukin-21 (IL-21), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-17A (IL-17A), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) (P<0.05), and there were significant reductions in these markers after T-MSC treatment compared with the Con A group (P<0.05), with no significant differences in IL-21, IL-1β, IL-17A, and TNF-α compared with the HC group (P>0.05); although there was a significant reduction in the level of IL-2, the Con A+T-MSC group still had a significantly higher level of IL-2 than the HC group (P=0.001). In contrast, compared with the HC group, the Con A group had a significant increase in IL-10 (P<0.05), with a further increase after T-MSC treatment (P<0.05). The transcriptome analysis showed that T-MSC treatment downregulated the expression of the inflammation- and chemokine-related genes including Ccl2, Cxcl10, Il-21, and Il-6 and inhibited the inflammation-related pathways such as TNF, IL-17, nuclear factor-κB, and JAK-STAT. Immunofluorescence assay showed that compared with the HC group, the Con A group had a significant increase in the expression of IL-21 in the liver (P<0.001), and there was a significant reduction in IL-21 after T-MSC treatment compared with the Con A group (P<0.001); the results of Western blot showed the same trend. ConclusionT-MSC can alleviate Con A-induced immune-mediated liver injury in mice, as evidenced by the improvement in liver biochemical parameters, the alleviation of histopathological damage, and the overall downregulation of inflammation-related molecules. T-MSC exerts marked anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects in this model, and IL-21 shows a significant change in inflammatory response and can be used as a candidate molecule for further investigation.
7.FOXO3-engineered human mesenchymal stem cells efficiently enhance post-ischemic stroke functional rehabilitation.
Fangshuo ZHENG ; Jinghui LEI ; Zan HE ; Taixin NING ; Shuhui SUN ; Yusheng CAI ; Qian ZHAO ; Shuai MA ; Weiqi ZHANG ; Jing QU ; Guang-Hui LIU ; Si WANG
Protein & Cell 2025;16(5):365-373
8.Research Status and Design Ideas of Placebo Manipulation in Clinical Trial Design of Tuina
Jingui WANG ; Haining ZHANG ; Shun FAN ; Yusheng LI ; Hongyi WANG ; An BAO ; Wei ZHANG ; Huanan LI
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(11):1128-1132
The rationale for the design of control groups in tuina clinical trial is the foundation for rigorously validating the effectiveness and safety of this therapy. This article reviewed the current state of the design of tuina placebo in control groups of clinical trials, pointed out the necessity of setting up tuina placebo in clinical trials of tuina, analyzed the challenges in implementing blinding of tuina manipulation, and concluded that tuina placebo is still challenged by the placebo effect, the diversification of tuina manipulation but the lack of standardization, and the difficulty of implementing blinding due to the high level of public awareness of tuina. This article also summarized the design of placebo manipulation in three types of clinical trials, including spinal manipulation, acupressure, and paediatric tuina, and proposed four strategies for designing placebo tuina manipulation-controlling placebo effects, developing operational standards for placebo tuina manipulation, ensuring the rigor of blinding implementation, and applying new technologies to enhance the standardization and blinding capacity of placebo tuina methods. So the article is aimed at improving the methodological quality of tuina clinical trial designs, and promoting the standardization and scientificity of tuina clinical trial design.
9.Correlation between pancreatic fat deposition and pancreatic fistula after pancreaticoduodenectomy
Xiang XU ; Hongqin MA ; Li LIU ; Yusheng DU ; Ji WANG ; Wenxing ZHAO
Chinese Journal of Hepatobiliary Surgery 2025;31(5):358-363
Objective:To measure pancreatic fat deposition by magnetic resonance chemical shift imaging (CSI), and analyze the correlation between pancreatic fat deposition and pancreatic fistula after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD).Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the data of 55 patients who underwent PD in the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from September 2021 to April 2024. Among them, 34 were male (61.8%) and 21 were female (38.2%), with the age of (63.5±12.0) years. The 55 patients included 17 cases (30.9%) of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, 1 case (1.8%) of pancreatic serous cystadenoma, 2 cases (3.6%) of pancreatic mucinous cystadenoma, 1 case (1.8%) of pancreatic solid pseudopapillary tumor, 11 cases (20.0%) of ampullary carcinoma, 10 cases (18.2%) of common bile duct carcinoma, and 13 cases of other pathological types (such as high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia of the ampullary gland, duodenal adenocarcinoma, etc.) (23.6%). Before the operation, pancreatic fat deposition was measured by CSI and the fat fraction was calculated. With a fat fraction of 6.2% as the cut-off value, 55 patients were divided into the normal pancreas group (fat fraction ≤ 6.2%, n=29) and the fat pancreas group (fat fraction > 6.2%, n=26). The total hospitalization cost, postoperative hospital stay, biochemical leakage, grade B pancreatic fistula of the two groups were compared, and the correlation between pancreatic fat fraction and pancreatic fistula was analyzed. Result:The total hospitalization cost in the normal pancreas group was (91 527.3±19 118.4) yuan, and the postoperative hospital stay was 9.0 (8.0, 13.0) days, both of which were lower than those in the fatty pancreas group (107 772.4 ± 27 055.6) yuan and 11.0 (8.0, 22.0) days, and the differences were statistically significant ( t=-2.59, P=0.012; Z=-2.08, P=0.038). In the normal pancreas group, 8 cases (27.6%) of biochemical leakage and 1 case (3.4%) of grade B pancreatic fistula occurred after the operation. In the fat pancreas group, 10 cases (38.5%) of biochemical leakage and 8 cases (30.8%) of grade B pancreatic fistula occurred after the operation. There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of biochemical leakage between the two groups ( χ2=0.74, P=0.391). The incidence of grade B pancreatic fistula after surgery in the adipose pancreas group was significantly higher than that in the normal pancreas group, and the difference was statistically significant ( χ2=5.61, P=0.018). The relationship between pancreatic body fat fraction and the occurrence of pancreatic fistula is correlated (the correlation coefficient was 0.334, 95% CI: 0.127-0.515, P=0.013) The relationship between the overall fat fraction of the pancreas and the occurrence of pancreatic fistula is correlated (the correlation coefficient was 0.472, 95% CI: 0.235-0.689, P<0.001). Conclusions:The incidence of grade B pancreatic fistula after PD in patients with a low fat fraction of the pancreas measured by CSI was lower than that in patients with a high fat fraction. Fat deposition in the pancreatic body and the pancreas as a whole is associated with the incidence of pancreatic fistula.
10.Application of health education based on gain and loss message framework in patients with high-risk diabetic foot
Yusheng XIE ; Rongrong HUANG ; Zhaoqing LIU ; Qiansha WANG ; Zhuping WANG ; Yue MING ; Yan DU ; Wei ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Nursing 2025;60(11):1336-1343
Objective To explore the application effect of health education based on gain and loss message framing on the treatment behavior intention and self-management of patients with high-risk diabetic foot.Methods From July to September 2024,convenience sampling was used to select patients with high-risk diabetic foot who were hospitalized in the endocrinology department of a tertiary general hospital in Guiyang as the study subjects.They were divided into 3 groups according to the admission time,with 30 patients in each group.The experimental group adopted health education based on gain message framing or framing loss message,while in the control group,health education was provided in a conventional manner.Before and after intervention,the differences of intervention effects among the 3 groups were compared by using diabetic foot pre-hospital delay intention questionnaire,diabetic foot care knowledge questionnaire and Chinese version of Nottingham foot care assessment scale(CNAFF).Results Ultimately,29 cases in the gain framing group,29 cases in the loss framing group,and 29 cases in the control group completed the study.After intervention,the score of pre-hospital delay intention questionnaire of diabetic foot in the gain framing group was(21.48±4.32),and it was(24.31±2.49)in the loss framing group,and(17.76±5.03)in the control group.The difference among the 3 groups was statistically significant(F=18.725,P<0.001);the loss framing group was superior to the gain framing group(P=0.01)and the control group(P<0.001).After the intervention,the score of the CNAFF in the gain framing group was(55.83±3.06),and it was(59.14±2.90)in the loss framing group,and(48.66±2.58)in the control group.The difference between the 3 groups was statistically significant(F=102.245,P<0.001).The loss framing group was superior to the gain framing group and the control group(all P<0.001).Conclusion Health education based on the loss message framing is more conducive to improving patients' intention to delay diabetic foot visits,leading to good foot care behaviors,and may provide an effective means of pre-hospital prevention and control of diabetic foot.

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